Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Undisputed Hip Hop Queen, and Global superstar, Nicki Minaj, one of the hottest, most colourful and exciting stars to emerge in music in recent years, has her new single “High School” released on May 6th through Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Records. In the US the single has given Minaj, a relative newcomer, her 44th Hot 100 hit, equalling the record of fellow 'American Idol' judge Mariah Carey. "High School", featuring friend and label mate Lil Wayn e, is taken from Minaj's recent album " Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up," and Wayne also appears in the accompanying video. Nicki’s original multi-platinum Pink Friday album entered the UK chart at no. 1 and she followed that feat with a triumphant sell-out UK Arena tour. With more than 3 million albums sold globally, almost 30 million likes on Facebook, over 16 million followers on Twitter, and her own signature perfume “Pink Friday” launched, this 5’ 2” phenomenon is unquestionably one of...

Since it’s release in summer of last year, Jessie Ware’s debut album ‘Devotion’ has become one of the most acclaimed records of the past twelve months, earning the singer fans from all quarters and recognition from the Mercury Prize panel and the Brits. A special album was re-released on April 15, with the addition of four bonus tracks including two previously unheard cuts – ‘Imagine It Was Us’ and ‘Wildest Moments (remix) Featuring A$AP Rocky’. Teaming up again with album collaborator Julio Bashmore, ‘Imagine It Was Us’ has one eye firmly on the dancefloor whilst retaining the sultry soulfulness that Jessie’s voice has garnered so much praise for. One person who has been vocal in his admiration for the South London singer is A$AP Rocky, who earlier this year announced that he was a big fan of hers and wanted to work on something together. This has led to ‘Wildest Moments (remix) Featuring A$AP Rocky’, in which the New York rapper adds his characteristic slow-paced drawl to the trac...

LOWER THAN ATLANTIS have announced the release of the single, Something Better Came Along. The track is the third single to be taken from their major label debut, Changing Tune.   Changing Tune (Deluxe Edition) - Lower Than Atlantis available on iTunes Something Better Came Along - Changing Tune available on iTunes

Kid Cudi, Grammy Award winner, producer, song writer, acclaimed actor and one of hip hop’s most challenging and consistently innovative artists returned, with his highly anticipated third studio album, “Indicud” on April 15th. ‘Girls’, the forthcoming single featuring Too $hort is released on May 6th. “Indicud”, the follow up to 2010’s “Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager” comes loaded with features from the cream of today’s hottest artists, including A$AP Rocky and Haim. On ‘Solo Dollo Part II’ Cudi enlists the skills of hip hop heavyweight Kendrick Lamar, giving a new twist to part one, ‘Solo Dolo’, from his 2009 debut album “Man on the Moon: The End of Day”. Over the course of the album, Cudi expands his hip hop galaxy through mystical production, colourful soundscapes, and airtight rhyming. In less than 24 hours of going live, “Indicud” stormed up the US iTunes album charts, showing as the highest charting pre order on both the main album & hip hop album charts ...

Canadian trio Half Moon Run are pleased to announce details of their debut single. ‘Full Circle’ which was released through Communion on the 8th April 2013. Fronted by Devon Portielje, Half Moon Run arrive from their Montreal rehearsal rooms with a debut album, local adoration, and endless links of hefty blog praise across the globe. Full Circle is a teasing example of why this acclaim has already become an tangible response. It’s the sound of hazy 60’s folk, imbued with three-part harmonies and warm, psychedelic undertones. Canadians rely on their finest musical exports to deliver the complex, the dynamic, and the interesting (Broken Social Scene, Arcade Fire, The Band, Metric), and Half Moon Run infuse their music with some of the finer points of all four. Percussive, rhythmic, and mightily impressive, Half Moon Run are a beguiling listen from their opening notes, but with a hugely impressive album due imminently, ‘Full Circle’ barely scratches the surface of what to expect. ...

Willy Moon  released his debut album ‘Here’s Willy Moon’ through Island Records on 8th April 2013. ‘Here’s Willy Moon’ was written, recorded and produced all on his own (with a few tracks being produced by Pulp's Steve Mackey) and he doesn’t blend different sounds; he smashes them together. There’s no middle ground. It’s as if rock’n’roll had been deep-frozen in 1965, just before the Beatles discovered acid, and abruptly reanimated 45 years later by a laptop hip hop producer. Willy Moon doesn’t like to waste time. His debut album, ‘ Here’s Willy Moon ’, is less than 29 minutes long. Only one of its 12 songs lasts more than three minutes and not a single note is squandered. No bets were hedged during the making of this record. "My album is short like my songs. I always loved the relentlessness and excitement of that first Ramones album and there's something of that spirit in there. I think it will surprise people who've only heard Yeah Yeah, there's some slower,...

Woodkid, the Grammy-nominated French director/artist/producer/musician behind acclaimed videos for Lana Del Rey’s global hit Born To Die, Drake & Rihanna’s Take Care and Katy Perry‘s Teenage Dream, steps out from behind the camera with the release on Island Records of his debut album ”The Golden Age”. The eagerly awaited album follows Woodkid’s 2011 EP Iron, the video for which attracted more than 25 million views. In fact Kendrick Lamar one of the hottest and most lauded rappers to emerge in recent years, samples Woodkid’s “Iron” on his track The Spiteful Chant. Sonic images from the song were also used by the makers of Assassin’s Creed:Revelation for their blockbuster launch. The collaboration continued for the launch of Assassin’s Creed 3 when they used Woodkid’s second single “Run Boy Run” in their global advertising campaign. “The Golden Age” was written and produced by Woodkid and featured songs on the 14-track set include “Run Boy Run”, “I Love You”, “The Shore”, “Falli...